Friends of the Fort is a group of pastors, supported by their congregations, who bring simple gifts of gratitude to the staff members and faculty that serve here at CTSFW. These past two days you’ve seen two of their number preach in chapel: the Rev. Dr. Steve Sohns from Resurrection Lutheran Church in Spring, Texas, on Thursday and the Rev. Dr. Scott Seidler from Concordia Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri, just his morning. Five others joined them for their trip to campus (and an additional Rev. Dr. who couldn’t make it this year, but whose congregation still contributed to the gifts). Some are alumni of CTSFW, but others claim our sister Seminary in St. Louis as their alma mater. They hail from Florida, Texas, Nebraska, California, Missouri, and Illinois.
“The Friends of the Fort have told us repeatedly what a joy it has been to get to know all of you,” Carrie O’Donnell, Assistant to President Rast, wrote in an email to all staff and faculty, “and they appreciated the opportunity to thank you in person for all that you do in service to our Lord and His Church.”
Our gratitude goes out to Reverends Jeff Skopak, Al Doering, Santiago Keinbaum, Tim Klinkenberg, Steve Sohns, Scott Seidler, Ken Krueger, Charles Mueller, and Chris Esget; for the gifts from your congregations; for stopping by each office and work station to meet all of us; for the thank you cards and letters created by the kids of Grace Lutheran Church and School (Jacksonville, Florida); and for the joy you have given all of us as you have taken this time in the busy season of Lent to encourage those who work behind the scenes.
Thank you.
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Thessalonians 5:9-11
